Ian blackford’s response to prime minister’s house of commons ukraine statement — scottish national party

Mr Speaker, I was grateful I had the chance to meet this afternoon with the Ukrainian Ambassador and Ukrainian MPs. Although last night’s events have been prophesied and predicted for some

time, the acts of Russian violence, aggression and tyranny are no less shocking. What we are witnessing is a full-scale invasion, it is an act of war. This is first and foremost an

unprovoked attack on the peace and innocence of Ukraine and its people. But it is equally an attack on international law, an attack on European democracy and an attack on the peace our

continent so carefully built over the last 75 years. > 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🤝🇺🇦 We #StandWithUkraine. >  > The Kremlin must face the severest consequences for this unprovoked > aggression. And

 all over the world, we must stand in solidarity with > the people of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/vnzBXWHhY7 >  > — The SNP (@theSNP) February 24, 2022 President Putin – and President

Putin alone – bears responsibility for these horrific acts. And it is he, and his Kremlin cabal, who must now pay a massive price for their actions. It is important to say to the Russian

people that we know Putin is not acting in their name. He is a dictator, he is an imperialist, he is a tyrant. He is as much a threat to his own people, as he is to us all. Mr Speaker, This

is a moment for unity – it is especially a moment for European unity. All of the economic sanctions that are now finally being implemented must have one clear objective – the complete

economic isolation of the Russian state. Can the Prime Minister confirm this is the objective and that this has been agreed with all international allies? That economic isolation must

include sanctions on Putin and his network of oligarchs and agents, their expulsion from countries across the world, sanctions on his banks and their ability to borrow and function and

sanctions on his energy and mineral companies. > 📢 @NicolaSturgeon: "This is a clash between oppression and > autocracy on the one hand, and freedom and democracy on the other.

> We must all ensure that freedom and democracy prevail." >  > Putin must now face the severest consequences. We #StandWithUkraine > and the Ukrainian people. 🇺🇦 

pic.twitter.com/xggmRjFlS2 >  > — The SNP (@theSNP) February 24, 2022 And – as I said yesterday – it must mean finally cleaning up the sewer of dirty Russian money that has been

running through the city of London for years. And I know all the complications involved, but can I ask the Prime Minister the actions being taken to suspend Russia from the SWIFT payments

system – one of the steps that would hit the Putin regime the hardest? But just as we rightly seek to punish Putin, we must redouble our support and solidarity for the Ukrainian people. Can

the Prime Minister give further details on the humanitarian aid being deployed and the plans in place to offer refuge and sanctuary where necessary for those who might be displaced? And what

plans are in place too to evacuate the families of UK citizens currently in Ukraine, given that commercial flights have now stopped? Mr Speaker, Let’s not fall for the Kremlin propaganda

that they are prepared to soak up any sanctions. If we act now – if the sanctions are targeted enough, swift enough and severe enough – if we impose nothing less than economic isolation –

Putin and his cronies will suffer the consequences of their actions. So let us act together, stand together – and most of all – let us all stand with the people of Ukraine.